Abouna Yacoub Beatified

June 22, 2008

A Lebanese Christian boy, waves by the vatican flag during a ceremony to beatify the Capuchin Father Jacob Haddad in Arabic (Abouna Yacoub), in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday June 22, 2008. More than 10,000 faithful including top officials gathered in Beirut to witness the beatification of a Maronite Catholic priest who died 54 years ago. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, head of the Vatican’s sainthood office, who is representing Pope Benedict XVI led the open air Mass service. Father Haddad beatification is in the last step before possible sainthood